Rafael Araoje
Defender · Verl · №2
Recent matches
| Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
Verl
FC Wurzburger Kickers
3. Liga
|
2:1 | |
Waldhof Mannheim
Verl
3. Liga
|
0:1 | |
Verl
Hamburger SV
DFB Pokal
|
0:3 | |
Alemannia Aachen
Verl
3. Liga
|
4:1 | |
Energie Cottbus
Verl
3. Liga
|
0:0 | |
|
Alemannia Aachen
Verl
3. Liga
|
3:1 | |
Verl
Hoffenheim II
3. Liga
|
3:1 |
Season statistics
| Competition | Season | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 3. Liga | 2025 | 3 |
| 3. Liga | 2026 | 3 |
| DFB Pokal | 2026 | 1 |
About the player
Twelve years in the English system left Raphael Araoye without a single competitive senior appearance for the club that raised him. He joined Bristol City's academy at the age of ten and signed his first professional contract in August 2022. The closest he came to a first-team debut was a place on the substitutes' bench for a Championship match against Preston North End in August 2023, after being included in the squad for pre-season.
The senior football he did find came in the non-league divisions. In January 2024 he joined Weston-super-Mare in the National League South and played 15 matches before the loan was cut short that April. A youth loan to Yeovil Town in the National League followed in August 2024; it brought five appearances and was terminated early in October.
In January 2026 he left England for Germany and signed for SC Verl of the 3. Liga. No fee was made public, with the move reported as a free transfer or on undisclosed terms. He won the Westphalia Cup with Verl in 2026, and on 25 August 2026 he made his league debut for the club against MSV Duisburg.
Career path
- 2026 — 2027 — now Verl 5 matches
- 2025 — 2026 Bristol City U21 5 matches
- 2024 — 2025 Weston-super-Mare 21 matches
- 2025 Yeovil Town 5 matches
- 2023 Bristol City U18 1 match
Career
| Season | Club | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/27 | Verl | Landespokal Westfalen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 |
| 26/27 | Verl | Germany Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 26/27 | Verl | 3. Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 25/26 | Bristol City U21 | Premier League Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 360 |
| 25/26 | Verl | Landespokal Westfalen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 24/25 | Weston-super-Mare | National League South | 6 | 0 | 0 | 528 |
| 24/25 | Yeovil Town | National League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 249 |
| 24/25 | Bristol City U21 | Premier League Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 90 |
| 23/24 | Weston-super-Mare | National League South | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 335 |
| 22/23 | Bristol City U18 | FA Youth Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Weston-super-Mare | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 863 | |
| Total | Bristol City U21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 450 | |
| Total | Verl | 5 | 0 | 0 | 247 | |
| Total | Yeovil Town | 5 | 0 | 1 | 249 | |
| Total | Bristol City U18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Transfers
Transfers- 25/26 Bristol U21 Verl
- 24/25 Weston-super-M. Bristol U21
- 24/25 Bristol U21 Weston-super-M.
- 24/25 Yeovil Town Bristol U21
- 24/25 Bristol U21 Yeovil Town
- 23/24 Weston-super-M. Bristol U21
- 23/24 Bristol U21 Weston-super-M.
- 23/24 Bristol U18 Bristol U21
